really confused with temps

[miss2]

Ok so I have some questions in relation to heating for my beardies. I’m not looking for flaming, just advice. I am an experienced skink keeper but these are my first beardies and I’m getting a little confused there for, after some help. J
Now I’m wondering how I would obtain 3 different temp spots so I will explain what I currently have in my set ups.

In the 4ft tank I have a heat light which they use as there basking spot the temperature under it is 35 degrees. There are multiple logs and stuff in there so they can get as close to it as they wish without getting burnt. There is also a double UV light that runs the length of the tank.
So, if under my heat lamp is 35 degrees do we call that the “ hot end” ? should the cool end just be measured as the furthest point from the basking spot? It is currently about 22 degrees ( other end to heat light) what other temps do I need to have in there?

My 3ft tanks temperatures are also very similar.

i have also been told to turn the heat light off at night, is this correct? do i need to make sure the general tank is running at a certain temp first?

Would appreciate your help on how to achieve optimal temperatures.

 

[nagini-baby]

basing spot should be 40 (alot of people say lower but this is incorrect and i have had numerous vets agree) cool end can be room temp. heating for adults at night can be turned of. lots of different people do different things with success for nighttime. personally the thermostat i have allows me to set a lower temp at night without having it go cold. so they sit on 24 at night. so during summer its basically off. feel free to pm me if you need to

 

[junglepython2]

Sounds right, but I'd also crank the hot spot temp up and I wouldnt bother heating at night.

 

[JAS101]

my hot spot / basking area is 40 + , and i dont heat night [ even in winter] .

 

[miss2]

ok. great thankyou . so i only need the 2 lights, basking ( heat light) and there uv light.

the only way i can think to bump up the temp is to get a higher watt globe, is this correct?
nagini, i might take you up on that pm

 

[Wally]

As above. I run a 75 watt globe up one end of the tank on a dimming thermostat that is on a timer. Timer is set to turn on for 8hrs providing heat through the day, with nothing at night. As a result of this the thermostat powers on full for a couple of hours in the morning giving your beardie a nice hot basking spot. It will dim down in the afternoon as the tank warms up. I locate the thermostat probe about midway down the tank.

Depending on summer temps, you could drop the globe down to 60 watts.

 

[junglepython2]

ok. great thankyou . so i only need the 2 lights, basking ( heat light) and there uv light.

the only way i can think to bump up the temp is to get a higher watt globe, is this correct?
nagini, i might take you up on that pm

Either higher wattage or let them get closer to the globe if you can do it safely.

 

[miss2]

Either higher wattage or let them get closer to the globe if you can do it safely.

thanks mate.
is it worth getting a thermostat?

 

[Em1986]

thanks mate.
is it worth getting a thermostat?

Yes, a thermostat is very handy to have and worth the money.
My enclosures have built in thermostats and i am using 100W globes in just over 5ft melamine enclosures.
I agree with everyone else regarding temps etc, mine have heat/light during the day and none at night but they are adults.

 

[Herpaderpa]

Hey, I tried to do something up with photoshop but it failed LOL will try to fix it.

Problems with the temp will only arise if its too hot throughout the enclosure, or the basking spot isnt hot enough. They need to be able to move out of the heat when they need to.

Make sure you have two branches under your heat lamp so there are two equal basking spots for your two dragons. The cool end should be at least room temp, if the temp is a bit high in the cool end, a hide may help. Thermometers are cheap enough, chuck one at the bottom of the enclosure near the end with the basking spot (the hot end)... one at the basking spot and another in the opposite end to the basking spot (the cool end). I used to have a branch with a fork in it under the heat lamp to provide two basking spots

 

[junglepython2]

thanks mate.
is it worth getting a thermostat?

It can't hurt. It will depend how much the globe affects the cool end.

 

[miss2]

ok.
so i bought one of those digital themometer thingys, point and shoot.
temps are as follows as of 6.00 last night.
4ft tank - directly under the basking spot 34.2, cool end ranged between 22.2 and 24

the 3ft tank was very different.
directly under the heat lamp was 35, the cool end was between 27 - 28.
leaving me with the questions now of do i need to get a lower watt globe for the basking spot in the hope that it will cool the cool end down a bit more?

i will add that all 3 dragons are constantly at the hot end under the basking light. if they were to hot surely they would move away?

 

[junglepython2]

ok.
so i bought one of those digital themometer thingys, point and shoot.
temps are as follows as of 6.00 last night.
4ft tank - directly under the basking spot 34.2, cool end ranged between 22.2 and 24

the 3ft tank was very different.
directly under the heat lamp was 35, the cool end was between 27 - 28.
leaving me with the questions now of do i need to get a lower watt globe for the basking spot in the hope that it will cool the cool end down a bit more?

i will add that all 3 dragons are constantly at the hot end under the basking light. if they were to hot surely they would move away?

They aren't hot enough, you need to get the basking spot over 40, so I wouldn't be lowering the wattage. If anything increase it or put a basking shelf closer to the globe. You can add some more vetilation to the cool end if you needed to keep that down.

 

[black_headed_mon]

baskin spot needs to be 40-45!! i use 75w phillips flood light from bunnings(about 3 bucks) 60w in summer and no heat all yr round at night.i've kept beardys along time never had probs and they breed,just need that hot spot!!

 

[mysnakesau]

The only time you'd need more heating elsewhere in the tank is if areas away from the basking spot are very much below the ideal cool temperature range. Cold temps might send them into brumation and cause feeding issues. But apart from upping the temp of your basking spot, as advised, the cool end sounds fine. You can increase the temperature of his basking spot by adding a rock under the light so he can get a little closer to the light. Much safer & cheaper option than going out and getting a bigger light globe.

 

[miss2]

ok sorry still a little off.....
if i need the 3ft's hot spot to increase in temperature, how do i achieve this without making the " cool spot" rise in temp as well?
as it is i was under the impression that the cool spot in the 3ft is already to warm currently running at 27.

sorry again for the questions but i suffer sever retardation with anything to do with numbers and " technial" stuff

 

[junglepython2]

27 is fine, you can increase the amount of ventilation in the tank to keep the cool end reasonable.